Portable privacy panels

ABSTRACT

A portable privacy panel for closing a portion of an existing open enclosure. The panel comprises a non-transparent material having a perimeter that defines an area equal to the portion of the open enclosure that is desired to be closed; a plurality of attachment locations about the perimeter; and a plurality of eyelets, each of which is located at an attachment location and defines an aperture through which the panel is secured to the enclosure in a desired location.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a convenient transportable means for establishing privacy. More particularly, the present invention relates to privacy panels that may be used individually or in combinations to establish privacy for a portion of an open enclosure.

BACKGROUND

For a variety of reasons, available open real estate continues to become increasingly scarce. As a result, buildings are being constructed on smaller parcels of land and in closer proximity to one another than ever before. This trend is today's suburban neighborhoods. Whereas owning a single home in the suburbs once meant substantial separation and privacy from one's neighbors, today's suburban homes are being erected literally just yards from one another. As a result, the privacy once enjoyed by suburbanites is quickly becoming an anomaly.

Common approaches to offsetting this loss of personal privacy include erecting fences and utilizing landscaping techniques. Although helpful, such approaches are often ineffective. First, because the close proximity of neighboring homes and/or buildings is such that the gain in privacy is marginal at best. Secondly, even if substantial privacy gains were attainable, the initial expense and cost of continued maintenance associated with such approaches are very high and often difficult to justify. Finally, these approaches may vary the very property use they are intended to protect.

Accordingly, it is desirable to have an easily assembled, readily transportable means of establishing privacy in at least a desired area.

SUMMARY

The present invention concerns portable panels for establishing privacy in at least a portion of an existing open enclosure. The panel comprises a non-transparent material having a perimeter that defines an area equal to a portion of the open enclosure that is desired to be closed; a plurality of attachment locations about its perimeter; and a plurality of eyelets, each of which is located at an attachment location and defines an aperture through which the panel is secured to the enclosure in a desired location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is an illustrative example of the present invention used to provide privacy for an above ground pool.

FIG. 2 is a privacy panel of the present invention wherein attachment eyelets are selectively arranged along the top and bottom edges of the panel; the top edge of the panel housing twice as many eyelets as the bottom edge.

FIG. 3 is a privacy panel with attachment eyelets along the lateral edges of the panel.

FIG. 4 is a privacy panel with attachment eyelets spaced about the panel's entire perimeter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

To illustrate one example of an application of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a typical above ground pool that may be located in the back yard of a residential dwelling. This pool 100 has a standard platform area 110, a safety fence 120, and an interior swimming area 150. The safety fence is mounted about the perimeter of the pool enclosing the platform and swimming areas. Although this safety fence prevents trespassers from entering and prevents swimmers and pool equipment from falling out, it does not provide privacy. For those inside the fenced area to enjoy privacy, select portions of the fence must be covered. In the present illustration, multiple privacy panels 130 of the present invention provide such cover.

The privacy panels 130 are mounted on the safety fence 120 on a portion of the fence exposed to view. Preferably, air gaps 140 remain above and below the attached panels to allow air to flow freely through the top and bottom of the safety fence. As a result, air will not get trapped in the panels, the safety fence will not experience undue stress, and a user of the pool will enjoy air movement. The remaining sections of the fence 120 are not covered since they are away from view.

Each privacy panel 130 in FIG. 1 is comprised of a non-transparent, flexible sheet material, such as a shower curtain of woven polyester yarns having a monofilament or staple construction, that is capable of withstanding water and is weather resistant. The attachment eyelets 134 are comprised of metallic materials, preferably rust proof, such as aluminum, steel or brass inserted in the hemmed edge 132. The panel is attached to the safety fence with a length of rope, bungee cords, shower hooks or the like through eyelets 134. Alternatively, the privacy panels 130 may be of other woven or knitted textile fabric materials, both natural and synthetic, such as canvas, duck cloth, poly-vinyl chloride (PVC), nylon or the like which are air permeable and have good water shedding properties. In addition, the panel may be plastic sheet material that has been needle punched to create air permeable apertures. In any case, the panel 130 is constructed such that it can easily be applied to and removed from the enclosure.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an embodiment of the present invention having two sets of attachment eyelets 230 and 240. Both sets of eyelets are spaced, preferably equally, along a respective edge of the panel. There are, in this embodiment, twice as many eyelets 230 located along the top horizontal edge 201 as there are along the bottom horizontal edge 202. The eyelets may be of varied diameters and composed of various types of materials, such as metals like aluminum, steel, brass, etc., and plastic or the like. Generally, the eyelets must be sufficiently durable to allow attachment of the panel to the enclosure without damage to the panel.

The panel material 220 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a mesh-type material, wherein the mesh is close enough to prevent a sight line through the mesh, but still permits air flow. This material is flexible, preferably sheds water, and is quick drying. Once again, it is preferred that the material be a permeable constructed as to air and water shedding characteristics but that it have a durability characterized in a manner similar to that of canvas or a PVC mesh.

For certain applications, such as where there are no vertical attachment points on an open enclosure, the embodiment described in FIG. 2 is sufficient. However, if the open enclosure permits vertically oriented attachment points, then the panel shown in FIG. 3 may be preferable. FIG. 3 illustrates a privacy panel 310 which is very similar to the panel described in FIG. 2. The privacy panel in the FIG. 3, however, has additional eyelets 350 which are not present in the FIG. 2 panel. These additional eyelets 350 are equally spaced along each of the vertical edges 303 & 304. With regard to size and material composition, these vertical eyelets are characterized in the same manner as the other eyelets. The addition of these vertical eyelets allows for the panel to attach at more points.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the privacy panel 410 shown has additional attachment eyelets 440 along its bottom horizontal edge 402. Thus, the panel shown in FIG. 4 has an equal number of eyelets along its horizontal and vertical edges to provide more attachment points resulting in a more secure attachment to an outdoor enclosure.

In each case of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, it will be appreciated that the privacy panels were shown as rectangular in shape for ease of illustration, however, the panels may be of other shapes to create geometric impression or to conform to the shape of the enclosure elements. It should be understood that the privacy panel of the present invention, in addition to being embodied in various geometric forms, may be comprised of many weather resistant materials. In the event that the panel is intended for use in an application that is not exposed to weather, the water shedding and drying characteristics may not be as critical, but the air permeability and line of sight characteristics should be preserved. It will also be recognized that the terms horizontal, vertical, top, bottom and side were used to ease the description and are not absolute orientations. 

1. A panel for closing a portion of an existing open enclosure, the panel comprising: a non-transparent material having a predetermined perimeter that defines an area equal to a portion of an open enclosure that is desired to be closed and a plurality of attachment locations defined about the perimeter; and a plurality of eyelets, each of which is located at an attachment location, that define apertures through which the material is secured to the enclosure in a desired location.
 2. The panel of claim 1 wherein a portion of the panel is folded back into itself to form a hemmed edge about the perimeter.
 3. The panel of claim 1 wherein the material is sheet plastic
 4. The panel of claim 1 wherein the material is a textile fabric.
 5. The panel of claim 1 wherein the material is a woven textile fabric.
 6. The panel of claim 1 wherein the material is a woven polyester textile fabric.
 7. The panel of claim 1 wherein each eyelet is comprised of a metallic material.
 8. The panel of claim 1 wherein each eyelet is comprised of a plastic material.
 9. The combination of an open structure and a privacy panel, the combination comprising: an open structure having at least top, bottom and side components that form at least a partial enclosure about an area where privacy is desired and define a first predetermined area; and a privacy panel of non-transparent material having a second predetermined area that is no greater than the first predetermined area and a plurality of attachment locations at which it is secured to at least two components of the open structure.
 10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the first and second predetermined areas are equal.
 11. The combination of claim 9 wherein the second predetermined area is less than the first predetermined area.
 12. The combination of claim 9 wherein the privacy panel has a predetermined perimeter.
 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the predetermined perimeter includes a hemmed portion.
 14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the attachment locations are positioned in the hemmed portion.
 15. The combination of claim 42 wherein the attachment locations include eyelets.
 16. The combination of claim 9 wherein the panel has top, bottom and side edges.
 17. The combination of claim 9 wherein the panel has top, bottom and side edges and the attachment locations are located along the top and bottom edges of the panel.
 18. The combination of claim 9 wherein the panel has top, bottom and side edges and the attachment locations are located along the top and side edges of the panel.
 19. The combination of claim 9 wherein the panel has top, bottom and side edges, the attachment locations are located along the top and bottom edges of the panel and at least some of the attachment locations include eyelets.
 20. The combination of claim 9 wherein the panel has top, bottom and side edges, the attachment locations are located along the top and side edges of the panel and at least some of the attachment locations include eyelets.
 21. The combination of claim 9 wherein the panel is comprised of plastic sheet material.
 22. The combination of claim 9 wherein the panel is comprised of a textile fabric.
 23. The combination of claim 9 wherein the panel is air permeable.
 24. The combination of claim 9 wherein the panel is woven of polyester monofilament yarns and is air permeable. 